Fine Arts
Hi, my name is Mrs.Butler and I have lived and worked in Austin, TX for most of my life. I enjoy teaching my students about how big art can be and how you can market yourself as an artist. I am part of several art communities and art businesses in and around Austin, and currently sell my own work part time.
My Professional and Educational Background-
I have a background in graphic design and fine art with B.A. in Communication Design from Texas State University. I attended the Art Institute of Chicago for two years with a focus in painting and art and technology. I have also worked in the fashion/sales/makeup industry for over twenty years.
I look forward to making art with you!
Ms. Edwards was born and raised in Houston, TX. Her dance education began around the age of five at APAC Studio with a focus on ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Some of her favorite adolescent memories were during her Drill Team days as a Jersey Village Gold Duster where she helped lead the team each year.
In 2013, she graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor's in Business Administration and a Dance Minor. While attending A&M, she performed and taught with student organizations such as Fade to Black and Dance Arts Society. In the summer of 2014, she completed a dance & business internship through Performing Arts Abroad in Barcelona, Spain with Varium Espai de Moviment.
After a few years of teaching dance instruction to various studios in Austin, she began her journey into Public School Education by completing her EC-12 Physical Education and 9-12 Dance Certification. She always hoped to lead a team of her own, and although the journey was not direct, she is thankful for all of the various roles she held prior. In the Fall of 2018, she became the Dance Teacher and Drill Team Director for LBJ/LASA. She is cultivating a strong Dance program and hopes to for years to come. Dance, is a beautiful source of creativity, health, friendship, and a way to connect with your community, and she love to inspire these joys within her students.
Most recently, Ms. Edwards obtained her 200 hour RYT Certification through Wanderlust's Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training. She incorporates many Yogic practices such as meditation, movement, and overall health and wellness into her teachings as well.
In addition to teaching and practicing dance and yoga, she loves spending time with her cats and puppy, exploring the outdoors, seeing live music, gardening, quality family and friend time, and continually learning new things!
Mohneesha Washington
Dance
512-414-7045
mohneesha.washington@austinisd.org
After college, Mrs. Washington worked with A.C.E. after school programs teaching dance to elementary aged children in East Austin. From there, she became the Engage Dance Team Director at Austin Community College under the office of Student Life. She then transitioned into a career of public education in Austin I.S.D. as the Director of Dance at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Mrs. Washington eventually left high school teaching to become a full time Middle School Dance Director at Covington Fine Arts Academy and later, Decker MS Fine Arts Academy in Manor ISD. She now returns to her alma mater LBJ ECHS to direct the dance program.
Although Mrs. Washington has performed and choreographed for various different dance groups and companies, her true joy comes from teaching dance to those students that wouldn't normally attend dance classes in a professional studio setting. Mrs. Washington believes that every child no matter their socioeconomic background should have access to the art of dance and high quality instruction.
Mrs. Washington has been married for over 10 years to her wonderful Husband Ronny and she has two beautiful daughters Lyric and Ziva.
The guitar program at LBJ is continuing to grow year after year, and eventually we hope to establish a tiered system of ensembles just like in band or orchestra so that students can continue to effectively build on their experience from one year to the next.
Please contact Mr. Fratus at fratus@austinisd.org with any questions you may have about the guitar program.
Deric J. Lewis, is an accomplished musician/songwriter in multiple genres including Classical, Jazz, Pop, and Gospel. After graduating from Huston-Tillotson University (Austin, Texas) with a degree in Classical Piano Performance, he sought a postgraduate degree from Howard University (Washington D.C.).
As a performer, Deric Lewis has been fortunate to travel to several foreign countries and most major cities in North America. He has shared the stage and worked with most national gospel artists including Malcolm Williams, Dorinda Clark, and Kathy Taylor.. His recording choir “Deric Lewis & The Church Choir” is currently signed with Ernest Pugh Music. They are featured on three national releases and in 2019, they were featured on the EPM collaboration album.
Deric has been called upon to assemble and train choirs for celebrities such as Diana Ross (assembled and prepared choir for her ACL Performance) and Damon Albarn (Assembled, rehearsed, and sang background vocals for Warner Bros. International Artist Damon Albarns SXSW appearances: Jimmy Kimmel-LIVE, Stubbs BBQ with live simulcast on NPR, Guitar Center Sessions at Starr Building rooftop for Direct TV, Fader Fort with Snoop Dogg and De La Soul, and the Public Radio Rocks Showcase.) Damon loved the background vocals so much that he decided to take them on his American tour, which included The Tonight Show, The Governors Ball (NYC), The Bonnaroo Festival (Manchester), Irving Plaza (NYC), The Royal (Boston), and the Fox Theater (Atlanta). Deric has been called upon to perform for celebrity weddings including the Jessica Simpson/Nick Lache wedding and the Nancy Mckeon wedding, and to score music songbooks for gospel artists such as The Texas Mass Choir, Norman Hutchins, and Chester D.T. Baldwin. Deric is also the organist for the Missionary Baptist General Convention of Texas, Director/Instructor of The Mount Sinai School of Music, and a proud member of the most esteemed Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Deric is also a music educator. He holds a Texas EC-12 teachers certification in Music and is employed by the Austin Independent School District as a High School Choral Conductor. He heads the Choral Music Department and teaches AP Music Theory, Piano, and Voice at The Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) High School and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Early College High School. Under his tutelage; in 2016, the LBJ choir made history with their Sweepstakes” award in Varsity, Mixed 5A at the Texas UIL Concert/Sight-reading competition.
